Dear Editor,
About 17:35 hrs on Friday, November 14, 2008, myself and a male friend visited the Banks DIH Idiho outlet in Brickdam with the intention of purchasing a snack. Before I could make the order my friend had an urgent call of nature, but to our surprise we found both the male and female washrooms locked tight, and there was a sign which read, “Our facilities are for persons who purchase food and beverages here.”
I am fortunate to have travelled extensively, even to Brisbane, Australia, where I have frequented many international standard restaurants, and I have never seen such nonsense, especially in a public place, which all Banks DIH outlets are supposed to be.
Let us presume we were shareholders of this great company and needed to use the washroom without making a purchase, would we have to flash some sort of ID card to do so? It makes me wonder if Guyana will forever exist in Third World mode. We are always behind the times.
I would like the senior management of Banks DIH Ltd to investigate and rectify the situation and release the locks for the benefit of all.
Yours faithfully,
W. Abrams
Editor’s note
We sent a copy of this letter to Mr Troy Peters, Communications Manager of Banks DIH Limited for any comments he might have wished to make and received the following response:
“Many thanks for the recently faxed letter received from W. Abrams. Notwithstanding any of the sentiments expressed by Ms Abrams, there is reason for the action taken in respect of our washroom facilities. We cannot comment on the situation existing in Brisbane but the decision taken by us is practised in many North American and European facilities.
“Over the years our washroom facilities have been vandalized, abused and used for reasons other than the intended purpose. Our washroom attendants have been physically and verbally abused and vilified in an effort to discharge their duties of maintaining a clean and sanitary facility. As a measure of control, the doors were locked. Customers requiring to use the facility can make a request at the counter. We have also had to face up to the reality of having the washroom doors kicked in and broken by some who consider the use of same as a right.
“We can recommend should Ms Abrams require the use of washroom facilities on any other occasion, she can ask at the counter. This is a courtesy we extend to all bona fide customers.”
not just guyana my friend, if you ever take a visit to ny, new york, that is the most unfriendly place when it comes to finding and using the rest room. and those signs appears all ova. to make matters worst, there are not public rest rooms within miles so it is a straight mess.
Take walk down in Manhattan N.Y and see how many places close their washrooms
Not an unusual situation and what management has described is very true.
Here in TO even at the gas stations, you have to approach the counter to
get permission to use the facilities which are locked, so the keys are at
the counter.
Want to hear this?….Even at my dentist’s office I have to ask for the keys
to use the washroom !! How about that?
I will sympathize with anyone who has been denied the use of a washroom in any part of the world, but only if they can advise the owners/operators of restaurants and other similar outlets on a way of controlling the use of their washrooms for selling and sometimes, administering drugs, , illegal sex, missing the mark and accidentally (sometimes deliberately) leaving a mess that ensures no one else would dare enter other than cleaning staff, deliberate smashing of mirrors, deliberate vandalism of walls, etc. etc.
I agree with the policy that the facilities should only be for use of legitimate paying customers.
Go after the various governments to erect public washrooms for use by the general public.
Its should be the law and good business pactice that if you operate any business facility open to the public, you should provide toilet or bathroom facilities to males and females. The department of Health should give license to those business that met this requirement. Every Macdonald, Burger King or other fast food facility has a public facility. If your business is open to the public you should provide these facilities. No excuse? Don,t compare any of thesepremises with North America or Europe. Guyana is for Guyanese. Let make it better than any other country or planet.
Jagdesh,
You obviously have not had the responsibility of operating a business in Guyana. I recall the time when the complete toilet was removed from the public washroom of an insurance company. The explaination given by Banks DIH is very satisfactory. When those individuals of Guyana who have no regard for other people’s property, learn to respect the rights of others, then and only then will washrooms be open as you wish.
Jagdesh, I suggest you go back to GT and try and change um.
Not sure where you been in North America, but like our other online colleagues have said, the locking of toilets is done all over the world – just go and ask for the key, they usually give it to you without any fuss.
SSDD
I have to agree with Jagdesh on this one although we do not see eye to eye on many issues. There should be rest rooms available to the public, where would they have you go? in the bush? This is why Guyana cannot modernize. DOVE.. when was the last time you went to NY? and where in the US do YOU live? Starbucks has restrooms open to ALL not only customers also all NYC public parks. Why can’t people in Guyana be held responsible for the same standards as others? are they not capable of keeping the restrooms clean with out supervision? ……GUYANA FOR GUYANESE!!!
there ARE SEVERAL RESONS WHY RESTROOMS ARE KEPT LOCKED. MANY TIMES CUSTUMORS LEAVE THEM IN DEPLOREABLE CONDIDIONS ESPECALLY THOSE WHO WALK OFF THE STREETS INT THE US BATHROOMS OAR LOCKED AND YOU ASK FOR THE KEY THIS IS THE WAY TO CONTROL AND KEEP SOME SANATION IN THE RESTROOMS EMAGING YOU BEING A WORKER IN THE STORES ETC. AND HAVING TO USE A DIRTY RESTROOM COME ON LOOK AT HOW THE TRENCHES ARE KEPT, MUCHLESS A WASHROOM WHERE YOU CAN’T BE SEEM???????
Guyana mut not be compared with first world countries. Guyana does not have the high standards and people must be sensible to understand this. I traveled to Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain,London, Mallorca, Barbados, Hawaii,Trinidad, Aruba, Jamaica, Switzerland,Cayman Islands, etc, and found washrooms locked in many places because of vandalism and vagrants. I was in a Kentucky Fried Chicken near Guybridge, and the washroom was locked. A key produced by the clerk showed me a filthy crap strewn restroom with about 4″ of water on the floor.
What do you mean when you say GT does not have high standards, Why do you have to tell people where you visited we don’t realy care tell us you visited several countries. In many countries I have visited some bathrooms were locked even the gas stations
What an extensive travel?
Right here in the Caribbean in Trinidad and Barbados washrooms are locked.
Please avoid the extremism in the attack and try some understanding.
Now that you mention T &T, I remember the calypso ‘NO TOILET IN TOWN’.
Was and still is quite amusing.
gGt to play it later today and laugh…
In my city all washrooms were unlocked until one year ago when a female employee of a clothing store was raped by a “customer.’
Now, all washrooms are locked and monitored from the outside by cameras.
I think the only places with unlocked washrooms are major fast foods establishments and restaurants.
I do agree with most of the comments made.Even the public facilities in some areas in the U.K. are being vandalised,hence closures.Good business practices to control this behaviour by vandals,is commendable.Thank you Bank’s D.I.H.,keep up the good work.The letter writer seems to be slightly out of step,with the precautions taken by Management.